The interface between Macroecology and Conservation: existing links and untapped opportunities

Abstract

Human activities are altering the structure of ecosystems, compromising the benefits they provide to nature and people. Effective conservation actions and management under ongoing global change rely on a better understanding of socio-ecological patterns and processes across broad spatiotemporal scales. Both macroecology and conservation science contribute to this improved understanding and, while they have different scopes, these disciplines have become increasingly interconnected over time. Here we describe examples of how macroecology has Highlights• Understanding broad-scale biological patterns and processes is crucial for effective conservation actions and management under ongoing global change.• While Macroecology and Conservation science have different scopes, they have influenced -and benefitted from -each other over time.• Macroecology has contributed to conservation by developing ecological theory and methodological approaches, making data more accessible, and addressing knowledge gaps.• Macroecology has capitalized on data-gathering that was originally intended to support conservation initiatives, and gained an improved understanding of how natural patterns have been altered by recent human impact.• Untapped opportunities remain that could foster additional interconnections and aid further development of both disciplines. We present possible solutions to improve connections and new avenues for macroecological research that can benefit conservation science.

Global determinants of insect mitochondrial genetic diversity

“…They aid in identifying adaptive potential and ecosystem resilience to disturbance 13 , and more generally, help to understand how intraspecific variation can help support critical ecological functions 14 . Along with being an important new component of the macroecological toolbox for conservation action 15,16 , the promise of these eco-evolutionary insights is fueling the rise of the emerging field of "macrogenetics" 17,18 . Macrogenetic studies summarize the geographic distribution of average intraspecific genetic variation across species assemblages to find previously unknown patterns and processes underlying the generation and maintenance of biodiversity 19 .…”

Predictability and transferability of local biodiversity environment relationships

“…Because of the evermore increasing demand for scenarios and spatial maps by policy makers and land managers, biodiversity modellers often need to rely on inter- and extrapolations of model predictions across space and time (Miller et al, 2004). These predictions need to be precise and accurate enough for the context and decisions they are meant to inform (Santini et al, 2021). Thus model predictions should be investigated for their predictability, e.g.…”

IUCNN – Deep learning approaches to approximate species' extinction risk

“…In face of the global biodiversity crisis, the disciplines of biogeography and (macro)ecology can provide an urgently needed perspective for global conservation (Santini et al, 2021;.…”